Dear Diary..Messages from Black History Makers

This cross-curricular project is a great opportunity to bring together library research skills, classroom content, and technology techniques into an exciting, unique outlet for our students. The professional development component of the project will begin with a school-wide in-service introducing the concept of podcasting. The teachers will be challenged to complete short podcast assignments, using the Simple Guide to Podcasting book, to become familiar with the process. The student component of the project will begin in the library media center with the students researching their assigned Black American locating interesting information on the time period, language, and historical facts. The students will have access to online encyclopedias, the Internet, and various print materials. The project will then move into the classroom where the students will organize their research data using the wireless laptop carts and a visual organizing software program, Inspiration. Once the information is organized, the students will receive instruction on diary writing and creating an interesting and informative script for the podcast. The classes will then come to the computer lab where they will be introduced to the Tool Factory Podcasting software and begin to create the script using the script writing tool. A rehearsal will be scheduled for each re-enactor to practice the script and become familiar with the Tool Factory Podcasting software and microphone. All of the completed podcasts will be linked to the school webpage while a select few will be shared on the school's morning announcements via the closed circuit television system. The teachers will later utilize the Adventures in Podcasting! lesson plan ideas to cultivate the students’ newly-found knowledge of podcasting.